Special Report | 15 April 2011 06:54 CET

Drama, as Nollywood stars reject Jonathan’s biscuits

By AZUH AMATUS

A mild drama was witnessed recently at an interactive session between President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the entertainment, arts and creative industries.

The well –attended event, which held at the posh Expo Hall, Eko Hotel and Suites, was further amplified by the intimidating presence of several Nollywood stars and their musician counterparts.

To the consternation of many, mid way into the gathering some people started sharing cartons of customized Goodluck Biscuits, from Deli Foods, with the smiling image of Mr. President boldly emblazoned on it. However, painfully for Jonathan and his team, several of the stars angrily turned down the embarrassing gift from Mr. President. And their reason was simple. Why would Mr. President give them biscuits at a corporate event like school children?

“That was a very embarrassing gift my brother. Are cartons of biscuits our problem in the industry? We came here to rub minds and interact with Mr. President on how to move the industry forward and they were busy sharing biscuits to us as if we were school children. I and several other stars on our table rejected the biscuits; in fact, we did not bother to touch it where it was kept. We need ideas and supports on how to move the industry forward and not cartons of biscuits.

They should have told us to come with our children since biscuit' sharing was their main reason for conveying the meeting, sincerely, I and several of my colleagues felt insulted,” blasted this visibly angry star in Nollywood.

Another stakeholder who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity maintained that the Goodluck Biscuits gifts, shows how unserious those at the corridors of power sees and treats Nollywood. “Mr. President consulted widely with other stakeholders and professional bodies in the country and didn't insult them by sharing cartons of biscuits. But when it was our time they started sharing biscuits to us that goes to show how unserious they regard us despite all our efforts at helping to rebrand the nation with our movies.

On a lighter note, I think they decided to use the so-called N200 million Dollar loan to buy biscuits for us, since in their own thinking we are very hungry, quite appalling.”

We will definitely keep you darling readers posted as more reactions pour in

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